I woke again with both of the
girls beside me. I had to laugh; Skyla hadn't let that old thing out of her
hands. She had the death grip on that thing. I heard Rei stir so I got up and
headed and scooped her up.
"Let’s go outside; you
can help me do the morning chores, how about that?" I asked the infant, walking
out of the room. She smiled at me. As we got ready to head out the door, I
grabbed the baby wrap put it on and put her into it, so that I would still have
my hands free. I don't like to keep strollers or anything like that in the barn;
they get dirty too quick, then they aren't any good to me.
I noticed something wasn't
right. The horses, seemed nervous about something, even the small animals were;
thinking that one had dropped a foal or a cow had dropped a calf, I checked the
stalls. That’s when I heard it. I knew that all of my children were inside, but
the cough was there, it wasn't mine, or the baby's.
I was surprised to see a
little cub about two or three, and a second about seven or eight. They were
sleeping in a haystack. Older one, he was a light light, tan with an even
lighter tan face, so light it was almost white. His hair was the same shade as
his body. His clothes were barely hanging on, only a few stitches that covered
him modestly. His body had scratches, cuts and bruises all over. Some looked
painful. My attention then turned to the
younger one, a pretty one at that but dirty; she was a creamy color, with a
touch of a very very light pink on her. She too looked like she was pretty beat
up. Taking note about her right leg, a deep gash ran from her ankle, to her
thigh. I was horrified at the thought of their story. Studying their features,
they looked to be Barbic, like the one in the pouch. Deciding what to do, I
took the infant inside, putting her into the crib with her sister so that she
didn't fuss so quickly. That was something I had figured out if they were
together, they wouldn't cry as easily.
Then I headed outside to the
two that were outside. I picked up the littler one first, wanting to get that
leg taken care of first thing. It looked to be infected. She opened her eyes as
I started to move her. Those eyes showed fear that I didn't know was possible.
She looked like she wanted to scream but didn't. It was like she didn't know if
she was allowed. I spoke to her softly.
"Hi there, I'm Selena.
I'm going to take you into that room and fix that ouchie for you. We'll let
your brother sleep then I'll tend to him," As she nodded, I walked into
the room I keep the medical supplies, and worked, putting a disinfectant on it
and then wrapped it.
"What’s your name?"
She didn't answer me, for a minute then spoke softly
"
"That’s a pretty name;
did your Mamma give that to you?" She nodded.
"What’s your brother's name?"
"He
Timmy."
"Alright, say
"Who's that Mamma?"
Darlita asked as she walked into the room.
"This is
"Go ahead." Skyla
coaxed, putting the object on the table.
"Sky, come here." I
called. She ran over looking at me. I reached down picked her up and kissed her
face several times, making her laugh.
"Thank you for being so
nice like that to her, Sky. Would you like to find her some of your older
clothes that are too small for you? That’s all she has right now." Skyla
nodded and squirmed to get down and didn't waste any time finding anything. I
was surprised to see it was a dress that I normally have to fight with her to
stop wearing. She had outgrown it a long time ago but loved it and would
through a fit if she found it missing. She noticed that I was beyond happy.
"That was very nice Sky,
thank you." I said walking over to the little girls before heading out to
check on the boy, he was still sleeping so I headed inside, and started sewing
a pair of pants, and a shirt, so that he didn't have to run around like he was.
When I looked up, I noted that he was walking around the barn, most likely
looking for his sister, so I headed out to him.
"You must be Timmy,” I
called to him. "Your sister's inside having something to eat come on, and
join her." He looked at me with cautious eyes.
"It's alright. I won't
hurt you. I promise." I told him, trying to get him inside. Seeing that I
had the other children around me, he walked over to me, and sat at a chair beside
"Help yourself to as much
as you'd like," I told him then turned to the little girl.
"
I sat down with the boy
again.
"Mother and Father died
just about a year ago; we were in a rough place, full of humans all of our
lives, these are all from running. Kennie’s cuts are
from it too, Last night she had fallen on a stick and cut herself really
bad."
"You referring
to the one on her leg?" The boy nodded. Seeing that he was finished with
his meal...
"Come with me." I
instructed gently as I picked the things up and took them outside. I had drawn
water into the bath.
"Go ahead and get
yourself cleaned up. And these are for you to change into; they’re yours if you
want them," He looked at me with a question in his dark eyes.
"Go on, get yourself
washed," I said as I walked back into the house. He had followed.
"What’s wrong?" I
asked Timmy as I picked Chase up.
"I... I ... never had a
bath before." I looked at him gently. Then spoke,
"Come on, I'll help
you." I told him walking out and setting the baby on the ground.
That was certainly different.
I still had yet to get
"Timmy, how old are you two?"
"I'm seven and Kenni's three."
"Can I ask you what your
name's short for?"
"It’s... don't laugh,...."
"I wouldn't dream of
it." I told him, amazed at the fact this little boy was so trusting.
"My name actually comes
from my heritage, way back in the thirteen-hundreds" He told me. My eyebrow
raised in amazement. After he had dressed, we headed back to the barn where he
had an old book with stuff in it. Some of the pages did date that far back.
"Mom kept this hidden
then, and it has been passed from generation, to generation. All
the way from then. They would put some type of message in it for the
next generation. I'm going to do the same. My name is this one's middle, cause it was they said that I was like him." I was
amazed at this boy's intelligence.
"I like the name, it’s
handsome. Why don't you use it more? It would be a better honor towards that
person, wouldn't it?"
"I guess so. But I don't
know." Seeing his face fall I changed the subject.
"How would you like a
new family? You and your sister? I bet it gets lonely
out there…"
"I would like it, but I
don't know."
"You don't have to
answer me yet. Just think about it." I told him as I looked over his cuts.
They seemed fine. Just to be safe though, I put some ointment on them.
"Lets
go see what the others are doing." I said, picking up the baby.
"Timmy, I stay
here!"
"What do you mean you’re
going? I thought you and I were getting along." I spoke as gently as I
could without getting angry.
"We’re going to go
somewhere unknown to others and stay there." He told me, picking the girl
up the best he could.
"Ow,
let go!" She cried out. I had enough. I ran over to the two and took the
girl from him, making sure she was alright.
"Well, Timmy you can do
as YOU like, but
"Listen to me. I know
your hurt, and I know you’re angry. I know how that feels; I've been on my own
since I was my daughter Skyla's age. Both my parents were killed. I had to run
myself and you know what? It doesn't get you anywhere. Also if you leave it
won't take me more than two or three days to get into town and let them know
that there is a child run away around somewhere, out here, and that he stayed
in my home and barn." The little boy just turned and started running.
Thinking, I told the little girl who was crying hysterically to go to Darlita,
I was going to go and stop her brother from doing anything foolish. I really
didn't want to see them get split up. But if it had to be, then it had to be.
I ran outside and after the
boy. I grabbed his arm tightly but gently, and pulled him to me.
"You listen here, young
man. If you were one of my children, there would be no way that you would be
permitted to act the way the way you are now, and I am making you mine. From
this day on, like it or not, you will be part of this family." He was
still fighting with me, so I let my hand reach down and smack his rear hard. He
just glared at me.
"Don't think I won’t do
it again ‘cause I will." I told him sharply.
"Now as I was saying, I'm not letting you and your sister separate. You
don't want to lose that, so you are staying here. You have a bed up in the
loft, like the others, all though until her leg heals,
"You’re never to speak
like that again understood?" Standing him up, I spoke again, "I don't
mind you speaking Barbic, but you will not use the foul language. Matter of
fact, children your age shouldn't even know those words. And that type will not
be permitted in this home do you understand?" The boy just glared at me. I
sighed.
"Good enough for now, I
guess." I then drug him back to the house and walked up the ladder with
him in front just to be sure he didn't try anything.
"You can have that bed
over there; I want you in it now, since I had to do all that out there. It's
getting late anyways." I walked over to the bed with him and helped him
into the bed, then pulled him back out sitting on the side and putting him into
my lap. I knew he might be a little bit more self-conscious about what I'm
doing.
"I'm sorry I had to get
that rough, but I had to get through to you some how. You may be Barbic, and
you might be from that wonderful blood line that means that you have something
to hang on. But as much as you may not like it, you’re still just a child. You’re
only seven years old; you need someone to take care of you. And that’s why you
are here. You’re staying. I knew it as soon as I laid eyes on you. You’re my
son now, as well as your sister is now my daughter." I laid him back in
the bed and even though he didn't look like he cared for it, I kissed his forehead,
and told him good night.
"You put brother to
bed?"
"I sure did,
Sweetheart." I said; everyone else had gone to bed, but this one, she was
active and since she hadn't been able to move about, was talking as much as she
could. I just let her.
"Selena, can I ask you
something?"
"Sure. What is it,
little one?" I asked as I rocked her.
"Can I call you, Mamma?
You’re soft like Mamma was."
"Of course you can, I
don't mind; that’s what my other children call me. So I don't see why
not." The little girl beamed as she leaned deeper into my arms. I then
picked her up and headed to bed myself.